Tuesday March 7Peace Lounge, 7th floor, OISE, U of Toronto252 Bloor Street W. (at St. George Station)Doors open 6:30. 7:00 sharp to 9:30$15 suggested donation but no one turned away for lack of funds.

Big I, Little i,

Indigenous, indigenous, indigenize…. Huh?

Weren’t we all indigenous at some point? Can’t we all have a reciprocal relationship with the land? Isn’t all this conversation of differences between Indigenous and Settler divisive?

These are some of the questions have come up in the last year as we have explored the theme of indigenize or die as a statement of fact about our human survival on this planet. Of the many things that have emerged is that there is an important distinction between Indigenous, indigenous and indigenize. Most of humanity has been separated from the land, from each other, from the cultures that have sustained human beings for thousands of years, and from ourselves -- in short from our indigeneity. It is a global phenomenon that has culminated in the cancer stage of capitalism so exquisitely portrayed in the Trumpocracy to the south.

The problem is clear, we believe "to Indigenize" is the answer but...what that means and how is less clear to most of us. In our discussions from last month's session, one insight that emerged was that there is a generalized, small "i" indigenize and a more nuanced, deeper, large "I" Indigenize.

What do we mean by indigenize/Indigenize?

How do these meanings affect us personally?

How do we, Indigenous and settler work together in the best way to restore that which has been lost, yet working towards a future that has never been?

This is some of what will frame our next session next Tuesday March 7th at the Peace Lounge at OISE-UT. The evening will be in two parts, a participatory, facilitated, plenary session which will frame the smaller talking circles which will allow each person to deepen their connection to this life-affirming process.